Genealogy Chat

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I've just received my great great uncle's birth certificate, which I wanted solely to confirm his mother's maiden name. His siblings were born before 1837, he must have been an after thought. However, under When and where born, it says the date and then Half past 10 pm. So does that mean he was a twin? Is there anyway of discovering this, or will I need to invest another £5 in the 1837? I've checked FreeBMD, and there is only the one birth registered. Jan.

Hi Jan, I have never come accross a time of birth on a certificate and also recall this being mentioned before regarding twins so it's quite likely. Why not try entering the surname and birth date on FreeBMD to see if there is another birth that could match? I have found that some registrars are very helpful on the telephone and will ring you back if your requested certificate is the wrong one. Pam

I found this birth on FreeBMD, but there are no others, which is why I'm reluctant to search the 1837 site. Looks like I'll have to ask someone to look at parish registers for me. Jan

In Scotland it is usual to have the time of birth for every birth

Hi I have had birth certs with the time on most have been multiple births howerver I have been told that this sometimes happened when certs first started as the people recording the births were a little over keen. Janet

I've got one certificate with a time of birth but although this birth was registered correctly, no sign of a twin, so I think maybe the stillbirth theory could be valid.

The time usually indicates twins but some registrars put times on for single births. But at that date a stillbirth would not have been registered (until 1875 when the deaths were supposed to have been registered) so I would save your money. Bob

You could try phoning the relevant local office. Since you've got the subdistrict and date and entry number, they can go straight to the right page in the right book without having to search indexes When this came up once before, the local office said that the registrar had recorded the time for all births

Thank you Lesley. The surname is FORSTER (though unfortunately sometimes written as FOSTER, its definitely on BMD as FORSTER), this one is Samuel Charles, born March Quarter 1845, Dartford 5 99. However, I've checked on FreeBMD and there is no other Forster birth recorded, nor is there a death in that quarter, so presumably the birth wouldn't be on the 1837 either (unless it got missed by the transcriber). Jan

I'll agree with above comments - time of birth is recorded on all Scottish birth certificates, and at the beginning of registration certificates included more information than they do now. The design of the certificates changed a couple of times throughout the country - Scottish birth certificates in 1855 should show the number of surviving siblings of the child who was being registered. K.

Jan, Try http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp as I have found things on here not on BMD and it covers a wider date range. It also gives the facilty for searching if you have parents names. Anyway, have a look as it may prove useful for other searches. Happy searching! Jacky

Thanks Jackey, I do use that site an awful lot, but didn't find Samuel Charles there. I found all his elder siblings doing a Batch No. search, which is how I found his parents names, but Samuel Charles wasn't included for some reason. It was on that site that I found a marriage record which I thought might be their parents, and now I know the mother's maiden name I've been proved correct. If only I could now find the record of her birth. If anyone can find Mary Ann Copper (or Capper), born c1805, married in Lewisham Kent in 1825, I'd be very grateful. Jan

My mother-in-law had twins that both died not long after birth. I have the original certs and they both show the time of birth on them. Does anyone know if a death cert would have issued - its not the sort of thing that I want to ask her as she is very old. Kay

Well I am a twin born in the 1950's and a) I have no time of birth on my certificate and b) my twin was still born but only her death is registered not her birth. Hilary

Hi Kay, If the birth was registered, then there would be a death cert issued. In the case of still births, no birth cert and no death cert, or so I understand. Check out Barbara Dixons site at http://home.clara.net/dixons/ Brilliant site for all registration and certificate queries. Debbie

It all depends on the year. 1837-1875 nothing, 1875 -1927 deaths registered, 1927 on, stillbirths register. Thats how I understand it for true stillbirths. Bob

Just to add my twopenorth!!! My father was a twin and his time of birth is given as well. Why not have a look at the register and see if there is another birth registered in that quarter in the same area? Could turn out to be the other twin. Jan from gravesend, Kent.

Hi All I have a copy of a birth certificate dated 18.05.1907 it too has a time on it, 12 midnight, there was talk of a twin but I cant find anything on family search and bmd dont go up to this date, I'll just have to wait until I have a few more dates to check and then revisit 1837. Janice

just got my g g g grandad birth certificate with his twin they is no time on any but they says no 1 son the other say no 2 son they must not had a clock in they home in 1839 and in 1842 the same family had 3 and they are put down as 1 child 2nd child 3rd child marilyn